How Effective is Secondary Glazing for Noise Reduction?

24/07/2017

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Secondary glazing is well-known for its heat insulation qualities. The second window pane creates an insulating gap, keeping warm air in and cold air out. But how about noise reduction? Does the same idea apply to keeping external noise out of your home?

Read on to see how effective secondary glazing is for noise insulation and reduction.

What’s that noise?

Whether it’s traffic, noisy neighbours or some nearby industrial work, external noise can be a nightmare. For most, it’s not just a small annoyance. As well as ruining conversations and forcing you to turn the TV volume up, it can keep you awake at night again and again. Can secondary glazing help?

In short, yes. Recommended by Historic England, secondary glazing consists of an internal window, fitted to the window reveal or inside wall. The gap between the original window and secondary glazing window acts as a thick barrier to external sound. Rather than a single window letting noise into your home, windows with secondary glazing prevent sound waves from penetrating.

Getting technical

So, how much sound can secondary glazing actually remove? With the right specification and materials, it can reduce noise pollution by as much as 50 decibels. In real terms, that’s 50% of the noise eliminated. Yes, half of the traffic, neighbours and construction noises can be prevented from entering your home. Using specially designed acoustic glass, secondary glazing experts can completely optimise the efficiency of your windows.

Secondary glazing vs double glazing

How does this compare to double glazing? Many people assume double glazing is as good as it gets for noise reduction. In fact, secondary glazing can be up to five times better at tackling noise pollution. Double – and even triple – glazing has multiple panes of glass separated by a gap typically less than 20mm. In contrast, secondary glazing leaves a gap conventionally above 100mm. The greater the gap, the wider the barrier for sound waves, and the less sound makes it through.

The thickness of the glass is also important. In double glazing, the two panes are generally the same thickness. This creates a phenomenon known as sympathetic resonance. Vibrations in one glass pane pass more easily through others if they are similar in thickness. By using layer of glass with a different thickness to the window, sound waves are dissipated, meaning less gets through. It doesn’t have to be a case of ‘one or the other’ though. Homes with double glazing already installed can benefit from secondary glazing.

Over to you

If you want to reduce the noise pollution in your home, Clearview can help. We are secondary glazing experts. Using specially designed acoustic glass, we can install effective sound-reducing secondary glazing in any property. We’re experienced across the board. So, whether it’s residential, commercial or even a heritage property – we can provide exactly what you need. Sound good? Put us to the test. Get your free, no obligation quote today.

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Clearview secondary glazing - the solution to significantly improved acoustic and heat insulation to your property, making your home or offices more comfortable, secure, greener and cost efficient to run. Achieved without the disruption of replacement windows, and without damaging the character of your building.

My client wanted a solution to a problem regarding excessive sound being experienced within a large office complex, whilst having conferences and meetings in a large second-floor room with single glazed aluminium windows on two elevations. During my research, I found Clearview to be knowledgeable and very helpful in solving my client’s problem and alternatives with prices to meet the budget available. I was provided quality support throughout the process. The product was delivered on time, as promised with good protective wrapping. The installation was extremely easy, with quality materials and instructions. Once installed, the difference was amazing and whilst showing the client the finished job, a very large articulated lorry being towed by a similarly large tow truck rolled past the conference room within 3 m. The silence was palpable, the client was over the moon and hopefully impressed enough to want this system throughout this large office complex. Watch this space! Many thanks to the Clearview team for making this such an easy process and special thanks to Lianne and Deborah for putting up with my blond moments during the survey and ordering stage. As a shopfitter/office refurbishment specialist, we provide a service and believe that the client is king and by providing a good service the client will happily use us again. Clearview have the same philosophy, sadly there are too many companies who do not.read more

Excellent service form start to finish, we are really happy with our new windows, the house is now much warmer and they have really reduced the noise levels from a near by road. The whole team at Clearview were very professional, the fitters were great and the whole experience was efficient and the windows fitted within a month. I would highly recommend Clearview to anyone looking for secondary glazing.read more

Good quality windows, accoustic glass does the job well. We fitted these ourselves, but the website and customer service team make sure you've been informed of everything you need to do to measure correctly and that you've chosen the right options for openings. Not the cheapest, but all in all great service, would recommend to anyone.read more

If you have an older house with "special" windows which are struggling to cope with our ever changing weather conditions, I recommend that you seriously consider Secondary Glazing. Have a look at Clearview's web site first as it is really helpful, then if you are in any doubt speak to them. The Ladies there are even more helpful. Do not rule out fitting them yourself as the quality of the units supplied is first class. The key to it success is in the measurement of the windows you wish to fit. Measure and then check again. I would recommend trying just one first before embarking on a full scale re-fit as it will give you more confidence in the product. I had a condensation problem in my downstairs cloakroom, so I tackled this first. It looked great and it solved the problem. You get expert help, they keep you up to date on delivery (always on time) and the end product is first class, at a fraction of the cost of new glazing. Highly recommended. Geoff Chipping Campdenread more

Hi guys, I recently bought some secondary glazing, which arrived on time, 7.00am, just before i went to work..excellent service, Ive just fitted them to my sash windows...They look great,so easy to fit!! Im over the moon with them, I would certainly recommend these windows to anyone.. All you have to do is remember to double check your measurements before ordering,,, I would say 3,- 4,hrs to fit 7 windows, Ne bother !!!!!! Thanx once again, Best regards. Syd Carr.... P,S. One double glazing company wanted nearly "double" what you guys charge,,,,read more

Our bedroom overlooks a railway line, so we were primarily looking for acoustic insulation (we’d had secondary glazing in our last home, so knew how effective it was). After some online research, we went with Clearview this time, as their prices are competitive, their online quotation system quick and easy, and – perhaps most importantly – their customer service responsive and helpful. As it happened, here were a couple of glitches (on my part) with measuring and specifying, which Andy at Clearview ironed out for me with no fuss. Once ordered, the product arrived on time, and has proved highly effective at reducing the noise. I actually enjoy watching trains go by in near-silence, and have since ordered a similar unit for our living room, to repeat the experience! I can thoroughly recommend secondary glazing in general, and Clearview in particular.read more

Bought 2 units for our front bedrooms as we are on a noisy main road. Installed them yesterday and the difference in noise is amazing. I went for the 6.4mm laminated glass and positioned the units on the front of the window sill to give maximum gap.read more